Science-based archaeology > Steering committee support

Steering committee support

IP-1183-0510 Stable Isotope evidence for the development of early herding in Central Anatolia, 13000-5,000BC

Dr J. Pearson, University of Bangor.

IP-1185-0510 The evolution and spread of South China Porcelain

Prof J. Henderson, University of Nottingham
Student Hongjiao Ma

IP-1188-0510 The end of the world? Famine Plague and Climate Change in 14th century London

Dr J. Montgomery, University of Bradford

IP/1158/1109 Strontium Isotopes as Tracers of Fish in Freshwater Ecosystems

Dr I. McCarthy, Bangor University
Student: Alice Ramsey

The aim of this project is to track movements of trout in a river catchment using ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Trout are a key component of river ecosystems and are a socio-economically important species. Unfortunately, trout populations are declining in Britain and the reasons for this are unknown. To find out what threatens trout survival, we need to understand their ecology, movement patterns and behaviour. While we know that trout revisit their natal tributaries to spawn, we do not know how far they migrate in search of feeding and refuge areas, or how long these migrations last. We aim to use the strontium isotope composition of incremental growth rings in the carbonate otoliths (ear bones) of trout (which reflect the isotope composition of the stream water in which they have lived), to reveal movements of adult fish in the Dee catchment (Wales) throughout their entire lifetime.

Analytical phase complete.

IP/1118/0509 The origins of nomadic pastoralism

Dr. J. Pearson, University of Liverpool
Student: Holly Miller

This project aims to develop a direct approach to understanding the origins of nomadic pastoralism in Southwest Asia by measuring δ13C and δ15N in caprine bone collagen. It has been suggested that early villagers practising mixed farming in the Mediterranean zone, took caprines to the steppe/desert to remove them from increasingly cultivated areas. Others argue that early caprine management occurred mostly in local settings. Since C3/C3 biomass and precipitation levels vary across these ecological zones, δ13C and δ15N analysis is a suitable approach to test these hypotheses and forms the backbone of the PhD thesis.

Progress: Analytical phase started

IP/1105/0509 Suitability of Porcine Enamel for ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr Isotope Analysis 0509

Dr J. Mulville, Cardiff University
Student: Richard Madgwick

Potential problems have been identified with sourcing pigs through enamel strontium signatures. Research demonstrates that pig dental enamel mineralises to -60%, considerably lower levels than other taxa (Kirkham et al. 1988). This casts doubt on the biogenic integrity of pig enamel for strontium analysis. This research aims to ascertain the resistance of pig enamel to diagenesis through two lines of enquiry. In addition enamel samples from sites deemed likely to have non-local pigs will be analysed to reveal the homogeneity or diversity of strontium signatures. Samples from archaeological and modern pigs will be soaked in a substrate and then analysed for strontium content along with an untreated sample from the same tooth in order to assess the diagenetic uptake of strontium.

Analytical phase in progress.

IP/1112/0509 Environmental change in prehistoric nomadic pastoralists of Mongolia

Prof. A.T. Chamberlain, Sheffield University
Student: Michele Machicek

The aim is to identify and characterise the effects of nomadic pastoralism amongst Bronze and Iron Age populations of Inner Asia through the analysis of samples of human skeletal remains. We predict that the rise of nomadic pastoralism was accompanied by increased mobility and a marked changes in human health and nutrition through dietary and environmental change. Geographic and dietary isolation will cause identifiable isotope fingerprints to the different groups. Stable isotope analysis will be employed to test these predictions. This project forms part of Michelle Machicek's doctoral research entitled "A biocultural analysis of later prehistoric populations of Inner Asia.

Progress: analytical phase completed.

IP/1017/0508 Trade, mobility and culture contact amongst the Early Medieval communities

Prof. A.T. Chamberlain, Sheffield University
Student: Katie Hemer

The project forms part of an AHRC-funded research studentship A bio-cultural analysis of the health and lifestyles of early medieval communities from Western Britain and Ireland, AD 410-950. The aims of this doctoral research are to identify and characterise the effects of increasing cultural contacts and population mobility on the diet, health and social stratification of the indigenous peoples of this region.

Progress: Analytical phase complete

IP/999/1107 The early prehistoric husbandry of cattle and pigs in Britain

Dr. U. Albarella, Sheffield University
Student: Sarah Viner

The transition between Mesolithic Hunting and Gathering and Neolithic Farming is a crucial step in the evolution of human societies as farming enabled the development of extended communities and large ritual sites, such as Durrington Walls. This project examines Neolithic husbandry to trace the evolution of farming at this important, but poorly understood, transitional period. It investigates local domestication versus outside introduction, and how husbandry practices are manifested in animal populations and livestock movements. The project applies zooarchaeological methods ranging from kill-off patterns to biometry and the proposed geochemistry of the bones. It is supported by a NERC studentship (NER/S/A/2006/14209).

Paper in press

IP/974/0507 The provenance of Early European glass

Prof. J. Henderson, Nottingham University

The source of early European glass (1100BC-1st century AD: Bronze Age to Early Roman periods) has yet to be defined. Production of mixed alkali and mineral-based glasses occurred in this period. By determining strontium and neodymium isotope ratios in raw glass and raw materials it will be possible to provenance early European glass for the first time. This will make a powerful contribution to models of trade and exchange and will establish for the first time (1) whether mixed-alkali glass was only made in Europe; (2) whether the earliest mineral based glass found in Europe originated in the Levant.

Progress: Analytical phase complete

IP/967/0507 Evolving herding practices in Neolithic Çatalhöyük, Central Anatolia

Dr. L. Martin, University College, London
Student: Liz Henton

This project will examine the earliest pastoral innovations introduced to meet increasing environmental constraints and population size in Neolithic Çatalhoyuk (Central Anatolia). The introduction of controlled breeding, programmed slaughter and long distance seasonal herding will be elucidated. Data from sequential δ¹⁸O values from archaeological sheep teeth will provide seasonal and regional evidence, supplemented by tooth microwear evidence of foddering regimes. A modern baseline from traditionally managed herds raised at different altitudes will correlate tooth-enamel δ¹⁸O values to drinking water, and establish seasonal δ¹⁸O values in lowland settlement and upland pasture areas. This doctorate is supported by an AHRC full scholarship (ref: 2006/124958/UCL).

Progress: analytical phase complete

IP/966/0507 Reconstructing diet and tracing life histories in two colonial era cemetery populations from Barbados using stable and radiogenic isotope analysis

Prof. R.E.M. Hedges, University of Oxford
Student: Hannes Schroeder

Schroeder, H., O'Connell, T.C., Evans, J.A., Shuler, K.A. & Hedges, R.E.M. 2009.Trans-Atlantic Slavery: Isotopic Evidence for Forced Migration to Barbados: American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 139, 547-557.

• NERC Planet earth article

Progress: completed

IP/905/0506 The provenance of medieval and post-medieval glass in Britain and Western Europe

Prof. J. Henderson, Nottingham University
Student: Andrew Meek

The project is the first major investigation of medieval and post-medieval glass production in Europe based on a combination of chemical and isotopic analysis. The study will fingerprint raw glasses from know production sites and then use these chemical and isotope signatures to trace the trade and recycling of glass to in Medieval European glass. It will make an important contribution to the knowledge of the 12th to 17th century European economy. It supports AHRC Studentship 05/115791.

Progress: complete

IP/935/1106 ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr profiling of modern sheep teeth of known life history

Dr. J. Montgomery, University of Bradford

This study will demonstrate how an abrupt change in dietary strontium source is manifested in the tooth enamel of modern sheep moved from one geological province to another at a known time of life. It will provide vital information on the spatial and temporal progression of herbivore enamel mineralisation, attenuation of the dietary signal and residence time of strontium in the body. It will provide bridging models to enable dietary and residential signals to be reconstructed from the signals measured from archaeological herbivores and thus guide future sampling strategies.

Progress: analysis underway